Violent clashes and massive chaos were witnessed between security forces and protesters during the Parliament march by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and student demonstrators at JantarMantar in New Delhi on July 20. Thousands of students and protesters tried to march towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak case, which the police tried to stop by using force.
For this previously announced Parliament march on July 20, thousands of protesters started gathering at JantarMantar from 8 AM onwards and began their march towards Parliament. To prevent youth from joining the Parliament march, the administration had completely shut down entry and exit at all metro stations around JantarMantar since morning. Heavy barricading was done by police around Sansad Marg and JantarMantar. Without any prior notice, the administration also suspended internet services in the area around JantarMantar.
Police’s Strict Warning
Ahead of the start of Parliament’s Monsoon Session and the proposed Parliament march by the CJP, Delhi Police had issued a strict advisory a day earlier. The police made it clear that no unauthorised march or protest would be permitted. Section 163 of the BNSS (earlier Section 144) was imposed in the New Delhi district. Under this, there is a strict ban on gatherings of 5 or more people and on holding protests in public places. No protest is allowed anywhere except at Jantar-Mantar. Even at JantarMantar, holding a dharna without prior permission is prohibited. Police appealed to citizens and students not to join this illegal march. It was warned that violators would face legal action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant laws.
Lathi-charge, Water Cannon and Tear Gas Shells
Despite this, thousands of youth reached JantarMantar on foot. When protesters tried to move towards Parliament House, the situation turned tense. To disperse the crowd, Delhi Police fired tear gas shells and used water cannons. Following this, police chased and lathi-charged the protesters. Police also detained CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke and several other protesters. They took around 70 protesters into custody on charges of disturbing law and order and vandalism, and registered FIRs against them.
Questions Raised Over Police Action
Protesters have alleged that during the demonstration, some people in plain clothes also lathi-charged them. They also alleged that some policemen were not wearing nameplates. Protesters have accused the police of using electric batons (Stun Batons) and shock batons. Some have also alleged that electric current was passed through the barricades. According to a report in The Hindu, it was alleged that a young protester was injured by a pellet gun and is admitted to Delhi’s Lady Hardinge Hospital, though police have denied this claim.
CJP Delegation Meets JP Nadda
Amid this protest, on the afternoon of July 20, two CJP spokespersons, Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, met Union Minister and former BJP President JP Nadda. The delegation placed three main demands before Nadda: that Sonam Wangchuk be released immediately, that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign or be removed over irregularities in the NEET exam, and that families of the 20+ candidates who died after the NEET paper leak be given compensation of Rs 1 crore each. During the meeting, Nadda appealed to the CJP representatives to end the protest.
On July 20, Abhijeet Deepke and other student leaders who had been on a hunger strike for the past 22 days also broke their fast. On the other hand, social activist Sonam Wangchuk, also associated with the movement, refused to end his fast, calling the police action against students “barbaric.” However, after government assurances Wangchuk ended his 26-day fast on July 24.
The Delhi High Court has also sought a report on Wangchuk’s health, who is admitted to hospital, and ordered that he be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital on his wife’s petition.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and several other opposition leaders have openly supported the protesting students and called the police action an attack on democracy.
Despite the protest site being cleared by police late last night, protesters have once again started gathering at JantarMantar since this morning and security remains extremely tight. CJP and other student leaders have once again started their protest at JantarMantar.
Internet Shut Down at JantarMantar Without Prior Notice
No advance notice was given by Delhi Police or the government a day before the internet was shut down at JantarMantar during the Parliament march on Monday. When the internet was suspended, affected mobile users directly received a message on their phones stating: “As per government directions… internet is shut down until further notice.”
As per internet suspension rules, under India’s Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 and the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Anuradha Bhasin case (2020), any order to shut down internet in an emergency must be in writing and issued by an authorised official. As per Supreme Court guidelines, the actual written order for internet shutdown must be made public immediately so that the public gets clear information about the reason and duration.
Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and other organisations have objected to the internet being shut down during the protest without any written notice, stating that no written and public order was issued immediately before shutting down the internet.